Winter for me is big fish time!

Learn to catch fish in the winter

No matter what angle you class yourself in the angling stakes, match angler, club angler, specimen angler or a pleasure angler. There are basically only two types of angler, the all year round fisherman or the fair weather angler who disappears out of sight at the first hint of a rain cloud or drop in temperature.  For the all year round angler winter fishing can be pure bliss as the banks of lakes and rivers are such that they can be the only fishermen on the venue as the “I only come out when the sun is shining” angler is tucked up on the sofa at home sitting in front of the TV. Three of my PB fish have come in the winter months in the shape of a 28lbs 2oz mirror carp, 26lbs 6oz pike and a cracking 3lbs 3oz perch.  Learning how to catch fish in extreme conditions definitely make you a better angler as you learn how to feed correctly to tempt the fish into feeding and it certainly helps you appreciate the difference in fine tuning what mainlines and hook lengths to use plus the correct size of hook and other important factors like float choice, the correct type of feeder and leads to use. To be honest when anglers say to me “oh all my tackle goes up in the loft at the end of September and it does not come back out again until the spring” I cannot take them seriously as an angler and don’t really have much time for them at all. It reminded me back in my football days when come the winter period of the season arrived and when all the mud and rain was about some of my team mates would suffer long term injuries and unavailability until of course when the spring arrived, strange that!

Winter fishing can be very rewarding

I know quite a few anglers who only fish in the main during the colder months because it meant fewer anglers on the banks to get in their way and there is nothing more rewarding than to catch a nice bag of roach or a big chub plus a big perch when all of the elements seem to be battling against you.  I guess at the end of the day it is passion, drive, a need to be on the bank side no matter what that makes the hardened angler want to pursue the need to catch fish and that is why I have called my angling series “The Obsessed Angler” because I openly admit that I am obsessed with fishing and for me the world would be a much duller place if I could not practice my sport anymore.

Catching Predators

Mentioning my angling series, I am pleased to announce that the latest part is now out on DVD for sale. “Catching Predators” is the name of the next part in the series and runs for approx. 40 mins, if you wish to purchase the film or the first part “Spring Bream” you can contact me at obsessedangler@aol.com for more details. On the lines of my YOU TUBE filming (see recent blog) Catching Predators reflects on how I approach my Pike and Zander fishing using single hook barbless rigs which are much more fish friendly and very effective for the unhooking of the predators.  Although the series offers “How To” I am very keen on showing how fishing is on the lake side with some of my thoughts on angling accompanied with music and action shots. Part 3 is well under way and should be out early in the New Year.

Recently I visited a new fishery near Paddock Wood in Kent to fish a club match and next time I will report on how my match panned out on what was a bitterly cold day.

“Tight Lines”

Russ Evans

13^th November 2010 (13.55)